Orson Welles

Orson WELLES (1915-1985, USA) never received a formal education in filmmaking. He rejected a Harvard scholarship in order to travel, spending a short time at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to Europe. In 1931, he made his stage debut at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. After being unable to obtain a work permit in London, he moved back to the United States. In 1937, he co-founded the theatre company Mercury Theatre. The company’s 1938 radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds became famous around the world, and Welles subsequently signed to RKO Pictures. In 1941, he released his feature film debut, Citizen Kane. The film was widely praised upon release and received three Academy Award nominations. It is now considered one of the greatest and most influential films of all time. Throughout his career, he spent time in both America and Europe, working in and outside of the Hollywood studio system, directing 12 feature films, including Touch of Evil (1958) and The Trial (1962), which he later named his best film. Besides feature films, Welles directed numerous TV episodes, short films and theatre productions, as well as several unfinished film projects. His vast body of work has been often celebrated with honorary awards, including a Career Golden Lion, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Director’s Guild of America and an Honorary Academy Award. On October 9, 1985, he gave an interview on The Merv Griffin Show, and he passed away the following morning. Since his death, a number of unfinished or lost projects have been restored and released, such as The Other Side of the Wind (2018) and Hopper/Welles (2020).